MACAU - Macau once again tops the world in gaming revenue in 2024 as visitors return after the Covid-19 pandemic, but residents point to a huge disparity in which parts of the economy are bouncing back.
As Macau celebrates 25 years under Beijing rule this week, many feel more urgently than ever that the city needs to diversify its economy - something Beijing has demanded for years to underwhelming results.
Macau's gaming boom began in 2002 when authorities ended the monopoly of late tycoon Stanley Ho and brought in multinational casino operators known as concessionaires.
The city - the only place in China where casino gambling is allowed - took less than five years to surpass Las Vegas in gross gaming revenue and consistently stayed ahead aside from a Covid-era dip.
In Vegas, gaming-related taxes have accounted for around 35 percent of government revenue in recent years. But for Macau, the latest figure stood at 81 percent.
"Since at least a decade ago, the central government had hoped that Macau's economy would diversify, but it didn't budge," said Ieong Meng-u, a politics academic at the University of Macau.
"With gaming, the money comes too easily. (Macau) basically didn't have to do much for a robust income."
That partially changed when Chinese President Xi Jinping came into power.
Xi's anti-corruption drive brought an end to Macau's lucrative junket industry, which enticed wealthy gamblers from China's mainland with perks like VIP rooms and credit lines.
The city's six casino operators managed to renew their licences in 2022 only after they pledged to invest in other sectors, with $14.9-billion earmarked for projects such as theme parks and conference venues.
Xi, who will visit Macau this week, will probably "want to see for himself what non-gaming, hard investment has eventuated", said Ben Lee, managing partner of consultancy IGamiX.
City officials have even designated six historic areas for revitalisation - one for each concessionaire - though Lee said the operators would prefer "easy wins", as non-gaming ventures typically bring paltry returns.
"The casinos are rational economic entities. They will only do as little as they think they can get away with."